The Ultimate Fool
We all have that one person in our lives who is never content with what they have. They’re so incredibly crabby and can’t possibly be satisfied. That big and expensive Ford truck they bought last year isn’t gonna cut it anymore because it’s not the newest and the best, so they beg daddy to buy them another one. Or they always take the last slice of pizza because they always have to have that last slice.
In Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, Dr. Faustus is that guy. He’s not content with his talents and intelligence that allow him to be a successful doctor. No, he wants more. More power. More knowledge. More, more more! His pride and arrogance lead him to the dark magic of Satan; he willingly gives his soul over to the Devil in exchange for evil power. Talk about irrational. Because of his growing discontentment and flawed rationale, Faustus makes the ultimate mistake: discarding all he knows and believes.
In the beginning, Faustus ponders what to study because logic has seemingly failed him. Law, medicine, philosophy, all not good enough because they will never be able to make him as powerful as he wishes. He desires to “heap up gold, and be eternis’d for some wondrous cure” (Marlowe 3), but he decides that riches aren’t good enough either. He ultimately craves the power of a deity, a god. He wants to command “all things that move between the quiet poles” (Marlowe 5) and be the sovereign ruler over all. He says to himself “try thy brains to gain a deity” (Marlowe 5), and at this moment he signs himself up for failure.
When Faustus begins this journey to ultimate power, he decides to give up everything and pick up necromancy or black magic. He says “These metaphysics of magicians and necromantic books are heavenly… these are those that Faustus most desires” (Marlowe 4), and goes on his tangent about becoming a god and ruling over everything. Then, the good and evil angel appear and give him contradicting advice. The good angel says “O Faustus! Lay that damned book aside, and gaze not upon it lest it tempt thy soul” (Marlowe 5), and Faustus completely disregards his advice, which is a huge mistake. The evil angel says “Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art… be thou on earth as Jove is in the sky” (Marlowe 5), and this is all Faustus needs to hear. The evil angel appeals to Faustus’ pride and Faustus eagerly accepts this advice. Faustus’ pride and arrogance begin to spiral out of control because he now has someone in his corner. He can continue his quest to become a deity.
Later, Faustus meets Mephistophilis, a prince of hell, and asks Mephistophilis to grant him the necromantic power he desires. Mephistophilis quickly tells Faustus “leave these frivolous demands, which strike a terror to my fainting soul” (Marlowe 13), but Faustus will not hear it. He blatantly ignores Mephistophilis’ warning and advice to stop his venture because his pride and arrogance now controls Faustus’ every action. Faustus then asks Mephistophilis to ask Satan for his permission for Mephistophilis to serve Faustus and take Faustus’ soul.
Mephistophilis agrees and returns from hell with Satan’s permission. When Faustus asks what Lucifer says, Mephistophilis replies “That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives, so he will buy my service with his soul” (Marlowe 20), and Faustus then drafts a contract written in his blood. This contract states that Fastus “may be a spirit in form and substance” (Marlowe 22), Mephistophilis shall be his servant and do and bring Faustus whatever he desires, and be invisible at all times. The most important condition, however, is that after 24 years Mephistophilis has the full power to “fetch or carry the said John Faustus, body and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their habitation whatsoever” (Marlowe 22), but Faustus doesn’t believe in a literal hell, so this condition doesn’t strike fear in his heart; he thinks this term is a good one and that it doesn’t really apply to him. He’s John Faustus, and nothing that bad can ever happen to him.
Because of Faustus’ discontentment with his life, he makes a decision that he will come to regret. He sells his soul to the Devil and only gives himself 24 years to enjoy and enact this necromantic magic he wished for. Throughout the play, whenever Faustus makes a terrible decision his conscience wracks his mind with guilt, but he always chooses to ignore it and continue down the path of destruction. His pride and arrogance do not allow him to see the consequences of his actions, and that will ultimately lead to Faustus’ downfall.
Later, Faustus meets Mephistophilis, a prince of hell, and asks Mephistophilis to grant him the necromantic power he desires. Mephistophilis quickly tells Faustus “leave these frivolous demands, which strike a terror to my fainting soul” (Marlowe 13), but Faustus will not hear it. He blatantly ignores Mephistophilis’ warning and advice to stop his venture because his pride and arrogance now controls Faustus’ every action. Faustus then asks Mephistophilis to ask Satan for his permission for Mephistophilis to serve Faustus and take Faustus’ soul.
Mephistophilis agrees and returns from hell with Satan’s permission. When Faustus asks what Lucifer says, Mephistophilis replies “That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives, so he will buy my service with his soul” (Marlowe 20), and Faustus then drafts a contract written in his blood. This contract states that Fastus “may be a spirit in form and substance” (Marlowe 22), Mephistophilis shall be his servant and do and bring Faustus whatever he desires, and be invisible at all times. The most important condition, however, is that after 24 years Mephistophilis has the full power to “fetch or carry the said John Faustus, body and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their habitation whatsoever” (Marlowe 22), but Faustus doesn’t believe in a literal hell, so this condition doesn’t strike fear in his heart; he thinks this term is a good one and that it doesn’t really apply to him. He’s John Faustus, and nothing that bad can ever happen to him.
Because of Faustus’ discontentment with his life, he makes a decision that he will come to regret. He sells his soul to the Devil and only gives himself 24 years to enjoy and enact this necromantic magic he wished for. Throughout the play, whenever Faustus makes a terrible decision his conscience wracks his mind with guilt, but he always chooses to ignore it and continue down the path of destruction. His pride and arrogance do not allow him to see the consequences of his actions, and that will ultimately lead to Faustus’ downfall.
